shaffee



(No Model.)

B. S; 'S'HAFFER, J. K. ADAMS 8: G, W. HUNTER.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 325,873. Patented Sept. 8. 1885.

flare/250m.

Max M,

UNITED STATES PATENT O ICE.

RICHARD S. SHAFFER, JOHN KING ADAMS, AND GEORGE \V. HUNTER, OF ALBANY, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPBQITICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,873, dated September 8, 1885.

Application filed June 30,1885. (No moduli To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, R. S. SHAFFER, J. K. ADAMS, and G. W. HUNTER, of Albany, in the county of Gentry and State of Missouri,

have invented an Improved Oar-Coupler, of

which the following is a specification.

The invention relates, generally, to automatic car-couplings, and the special objects thereof are to lessen the danger incurred by brakesmcn in uncoupling cars, and to cause the coupler and draw-head to work properly.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a perspective View showing the connection of the couplercap with levers on the car, and the device by whose aid the coupler is held, so as not to couple when two cars come together, unless it is intended for them to do so. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the coupler with its cap, yoke, and spring. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the frame in which the drawhead works, showing the side springs, which always bring it back into alignment with the axial longitudinal line of draft.

In the drawings, A represents the drawhead, having the rear end of its shank held by a vertical pivot, a, passing through two horizontal cross-pieces, b b, of the draw-head frame B. The draw-head shank al o passes through a front slot or opening, b, much wider than itself, so as to allow for lateral play.

In order to keep the draw-head in the proper line of draft, we employ two platesprings, G 0, one on each side of the drawhead shank. These springs will yield where the track runs on a curve, and then bring the draw-head back to its normal position.

D D are screwstops, which may be adj usted to or from the front ends of springs C C, so as to regulate the lateral movement of the draw-head. The latter has the ordinary inside cavity, a, and the upper slot, (1", together with a cross-pivot, a. On this turns the coupler E, which is beveled in front in the well-known way, so that it will be lifted by the inward push of the link. This sort of automatic coupler has been long known to the public, but we attach to the top thereof a cap, e, extended laterally so as to be flush 50 with the sides of draw-head. To the sides of this cap we attach the yoke e, which straddles the draw-head, and connect the bottom of this with the rear of draw-head by a flat spring, F, whose tension, if unobstructed,

will bring down and there hold the coupler E, but will yield to the inward pressure of the link. The object of this is to couple instantaneously after the front of link has passed the coupler, a result which the gravity-coupler often fails to produce.

Gis a chain affixed to the top of cap 0, and having a long branch, 9, and a short one, 9, the former connecting with a grooved cam or eccentric, H, on shaft h, and the latter with a shaft, J, carrying a detent, j, which works in a notch, h, on the underside of cam H.

H is an arm on one end of camshaft, and extending to or above the top of car, so that the brakeman can uncouple the car and keep the same uncoupled as long as may be desirable. Thus he can not only use his brake,

but may likewise uncouple his car without either side, and all without ever placing his life in danger.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. A pivoted coupler having the cap e, and connected with a spring, F, by the yoke e', whereby the coupler will yield to the link, T allow it to enter, and then be forced down into the linkslot by saidspring, as described.

2. The combination, with a pivoted coupler, of a top chain having one long and one short branch, a shaft having cam and crankarm, and a'shaft having detent, whereby the brakeman, by operatingthe crank-arm, can raise the coupler out of and above the link, raise a detent to fit in a notch under cam, and hold up thecoupler, as described.

RICHARD S. SHAFFER. JOHN KING ADAMS. GEORGE W. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

J. S. WILLIAMS, W. A. HUNOLEY. 

